How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in New Jersey

Checked against New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy (Division of Consumer Affairs) · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Not required
Training: Not required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $50 application fee plus an initial registration fee of $70 (or $35 if paid in the second year of the two-year renewal period), per N.J.A.C. 13:39-1.3 as adopted in 2007
Regulated by: New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy (Division of Consumer Affairs)

Take the free PTCB practice test →

Who can apply

Be 18 or older.
Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Certify that you are proficient in written and spoken English.
Submit fingerprints for a criminal history background check.
Show good moral character: no current impairing drug or alcohol use, no drug-law or pharmacy-law convictions, no crimes of moral turpitude, and no suspended or revoked pharmacy authority.

Step by step

Once hired, you are a 'pharmacy technician applicant' and may work for up to 180 consecutive days, one time only.
Within your first 10 days of work, file the Pharmacy Technician Registration Application online through NJ MyLicense and pay the application fee.
Complete fingerprinting for the criminal background check.
Once approved, pay the initial registration fee. You get a signed authorization to practice until the registration arrives.
Finish registration within 180 days or stop working as a technician.
Renew every two years.

Official application →

Training and exam

Exam: Not required; the Board FAQ says it does not require pharmacy technicians to be certified. No state exam.

No national exam required here. If you plan to get PTCB certified anyway, practice for the PTCE free →

What it costs in New Jersey

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Registration application fee$50
Fingerprinting for the criminal history background check$
Initial registration fee ($70 in the first year of the two-year period, $35 in the second)$35–$70

Estimated total in New Jersey$85–$120Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Fingerprinting/background check fee (amount set by the vendor; check the current fee)
Biennial renewal $70; late renewal $25 (N.J.A.C. 13:39-1.3 as adopted in 2007)

Help while you start out in New Jersey

Starting out on an entry-level wage? Check the SNAP income limits in New Jersey by household size.

Once you're registered

Renewal: Registrations renew every two years (renewal fee $70 per the 2007 rule). Check the Board's renewal page for any continuing-education requirement.

Good to know in New Jersey

Pharmacy technician applicant (trainee) status: A new hire who is not registered may work as a 'pharmacy technician applicant' only once, for up to 180 consecutive days. They must file the registration application within the first 10 days of work and keep proof of filing.

No SSN required: New Jersey licenses applicants regardless of citizenship status if all requirements are met; people with undocumented status are eligible and a Social Security number is not required.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy (Division of Consumer Affairs) before you apply.